Combined trailer hitch coupler guide and securement assembly and method

Abstract

An assembly has a bracket attached to the hitch ball mount of a towing vehicle. The bracket is used with a first removable item which allows for the alignment of a trailer coupler with the hitch ball. Once the coupler has been aligned and attached to the hitch ball, the first removable item can be removed. The first accessory item is then replaced by a second removable item which allows for securement of the coupler to the hitch ball and prevents removal of the coupler from the hitch ball. The alignment and guide structure of the first removable item is interchangeable with the securement structure of the second removable item. The second removable item further provides structure for locking the second removable item to the bracket. A method for guiding the coupler toward alignment with the hitch ball and for securing the coupler to the hitch ball is also provided.

1. An assembly for use with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch receiver having a hitch ball mount and a hitch ball, and with a coupler of a towed trailer, the assembly comprising:
 a bracket attached to the hitch ball mount, the bracket comprising:
 a pair of opposing vertical members, each vertical member comprising an outer face; 
 a planar horizontal member that extends between the vertical members; and 
 a receiver mounted to the outer face of each vertical member, each receiver comprising a vertically-disposed aperture and each aperture being substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section; 
 
 a trailer hitch guide means; and 
 a trailer coupler guard means; 
 wherein the trailer hitch guide means and the trailer coupler guard means are each configured to be interchangeably received by the bracket. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the trailer hitch guide means comprises:
 a generally V-shaped structure having a centrally-disposed vertical plate and a guide plate disposed to either side of the vertical place; and 
 a pair of vertical support members, each vertical support member being attached to a guide plate; 
 wherein each vertical support member is removably receivable within a receiver aperture. 
 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the trailer coupler guard means comprises:
 a generally inverted U-shaped structure comprising a central horizontal portion and integrally-formed opposing vertical side support members; 
 wherein the central horizontal portion comprises a shelf that extends over the coupler; and 
 wherein each vertical side support member is removably receivable within a receiver aperture. 
 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the guard means further comprises:
 a plurality of apertures defined within each of the vertical side support members, the apertures of one support member aligning generally horizontally with the apertures of the opposing member; 
 a plurality of apertures defined in the vertical members and the receivers of the bracket, the apertures being aligned generally horizontally; and 
 a holding pin that is insertable through a plurality of aligned apertures of the vertical side support members and the aligned apertures of the vertical members and the bracket receivers. 
 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4  further comprising a lock means for retaining the holding pin in the assembly. 
     
     
       6. An assembly for use with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch receiver comprising a hitch ball mount having a rearward portion and the rearward portion having a top surface, and a hitch ball, and with a coupler of a towed trailer, the assembly comprising:
 a bracket attached to the top surface of the rearward portion of the hitch ball mount, a portion of the bracket being interposed between such top surface and the hitch ball, the bracket comprising:
 a pair of opposing and generally L-shaped vertical members, each vertical member comprising an outer face; 
 a planar horizontal member that extends between the vertical members; 
 a receiver mounted to the outer face of each vertical member, each receiver being positioned above the planar horizontal member and comprising a vertically-disposed aperture and each aperture being substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section; and 
 a support bar that extends between the vertical members generally at the point of the receivers; 
 
 a trailer hitch guide means; and 
 a trailer coupler guard means; 
 wherein the trailer hitch guide means and the trailer coupler guard means are each configured to be received by the bracket. 
 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the trailer hitch guide means comprises:
 a generally V-shaped structure having a centrally-disposed vertical plate and a guide plate disposed to either side of the vertical place; and 
 a pair of vertical support members, each vertical support member being attached to a guide plate; 
 wherein each vertical support member is removably receivable within a receiver aperture. 
 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the guard means further comprises:
 a plurality of apertures defined within each of the vertical side support members, the apertures of one support member aligning generally horizontally with the apertures of the opposing member; 
 a plurality of apertures defined in the vertical members and the receivers of the bracket, the apertures being aligned generally horizontally; and 
 a holding pin that is insertable through a plurality of aligned apertures of the vertical side support members and the aligned apertures of the vertical members and the bracket receivers. 
 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a lock means for retaining the holding pin in the assembly. 
     
     
       10. A method for guiding a coupler of a towed trailer toward alignment with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch receiver having a hitch ball mount and a hitch ball, and for securing the coupler to the hitch ball, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a bracket that is attached to the hitch ball mount, the bracket providing step comprising the step of providing a bracket that comprises a pair of opposing vertical members, each vertical member comprising an outer face; a planar horizontal member that extends between the vertical members; and a receiver mounted to the outer face of each vertical member, each receiver comprising a vertically-disposed aperture and each aperture being substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section; 
 providing a trailer hitch guide means; 
 attaching the guide means to the bracket; 
 moving the coupler and the hitch ball toward each other; 
 attaching the coupler to the hitch ball; 
 removing the guide means from the bracket; 
 providing a trailer coupler guard means; and 
 attaching the trailer coupler guard means to the bracket 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein said trailer coupler guard means providing step comprises the step of providing a coupler guard means that comprises a generally inverted U-shaped structure having a central horizontal portion and integrally-formed opposing vertical side support members; wherein the central horizontal portion comprises a shelf that extends over the coupler; and wherein each vertical side support member is removably receivable within a receiver aperture. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein said trailer coupler guard means providing step comprises the step of providing a guard means that comprises a plurality of apertures defined within each of the vertical side support members, the apertures of one support member aligning generally horizontally with the apertures of the opposing member; a plurality of apertures defined in the vertical members and the receivers of the bracket, the apertures being aligned generally horizontally; and a holding pin that is insertable through a plurality of aligned apertures of the vertical side support members and the aligned apertures of the vertical members and the bracket receivers. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of providing a lock means for retaining the holding pin in the assembly.